Critically endangered

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

53

2 speakers in Takukot-5, Mailung, and 51 speakers in Takukot-8, Dandagaun. "Most of the fluent speakers are above 60 years of age. The youngest fluent speakers we found is 48 years old."

DATE OF INFO

2007-2011

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

"The survey suggested that Baram is more likely to be used for activities such as thinking, scolding, cursing, and praying than for joking, dreaming, abusing, performing rituals, or playing. Speakers do not sing in Baram and there is not a single traditional native Baram song. It is equally interesting that Baram is not used in any Baram rituals; they use Nepali instead. This is likely due to the linguistic and cultural convergence that resulted from prolonged contact with Nepali-speaking people."

SPEAKER ATTITUDE

Neutral to positive (previously negative)

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

None

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Yes

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

Nepali

LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS

There are no monolingual speakers of Baram.

"[T]hey used to hesitate to speak their own language in front of speakers of other languages and to identify themselves as Barams... But at present, because of the democratic movements and growing awareness among the minority ethnic groups, Barams are happy to use their language and to identify themselves as Baram.... The Nepal Baram Association, a national-level organization, and the Gorkha Baram Associatino, at the district level, have been actively promoting the language, culture, and identity of the Baram people."

PLACES

Western Nepal

LOCATION DESCRIPTION

Predominantly in the central-southern part of the Gorkha district, along the Daraundi and Budhigandaki rivers and their tributaries.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Dandagaun of the Gorkha district is the only place where the language is still spoken.

2 speakers in Takukot-5, Mailung, and 51 speakers in Takukot-8, Dandagaun. "Most of the fluent speakers are above 60 years of age. The youngest fluent speakers we found is 48 years old."

53

All

Nepali

Neutral to positive (previously negative)

There are no monolingual speakers of Baram.
"[T]hey used to hesitate to speak their own language in front of speakers of other languages and to identify themselves as Barams... But at present, because of the democratic movements and growing awareness among the minority ethnic groups, Barams are happy to use their language and to identify themselves as Baram.... The Nepal Baram Association, a national-level organization, and the Gorkha Baram Associatino, at the district level, have been actively promoting the language, culture, and identity of the Baram people."

Yes

All

Critically Endangered (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)

15

"The survey suggested that Baram is more likely to be used for activities such as thinking, scolding, cursing, and praying than for joking, dreaming, abusing, performing rituals, or playing. Speakers do not sing in Baram and there is not a single traditional native Baram song. It is equally interesting that Baram is not used in any Baram rituals; they use Nepali instead. This is likely due to the linguistic and cultural convergence that resulted from prolonged contact with Nepali-speaking people."

15

Dandagaun of the Gorkha district is the only place where the language is still spoken.

Western Nepal

Predominantly in the central-southern part of the Gorkha district, along the Daraundi and Budhigandaki rivers and their tributaries.